Bed-couch.



N10. 7|4,375. Patented Nov. 25; I902; .1. HOEY.

BED COUCH.

(Application filed May 26, 1902.) v

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

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No. 7|4,37s.

Patented Nbv. 25, -|902.- J. HOEY.

BED COUCH.

(Application filed May 26, 1.902.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES? PATENT OFFI JOHN l-IOEY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

BED-COUCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 714,375, dated November 25,. 1902.

Application filed May 26,1902. herial No. 108,986. (No model.)

My invention relates to improvements in bed-couches. It is especially designed as an improvement on that class of couches having a hollow box or base adapted to contain bedclothing and the like, a seat-frame hinged to the rear portion of the base, and a back tu rnably supported from the seat portion having legs and braces for said legs, which when p folded up into the back serve as a support to hold the backin its upright position. When to allow access to the box.

unfolded, the braces extend the legs so as to support the back in a horizontal position sub stantially level with the seat portion, both being upholstered. This class of invention is well shown in the patent to L. G. Baloud, No.

586,959, dated July 27, 1897.

My in vention consists in more perfectly balancing the seat and back portion upon the box by hinging the seat portion of the base at a point between the front and rear of the latter and in forming Vertical slots in the back of the base, so that the braces having one end connected with the legs and the other with the rear ends of the side bars ofthe seat por tion would be allowed to pass into these slots when the back is opened out into a horizontal position, and they are also allowed to pass into the slots when the back is in its normal position, and the seat is opened about its hinges This movement of the braces into the slots allows the full length of the lower edge of the back to come in contact with-and rest upon the rear of the box, whereby a strong support is provided for these parts when thus opened up.

My invention also comprises details of construction which will be more fully described by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a transverse section of the couch with the back in a horizontal position to form a bed. Fig. 2 is a similar View showing the seat and back tilted backward so as to allow access tothe box and stops for the side bars.

pivoted to the rear ends of these bars.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing part of one end. Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing the back in an upright position and the logs folded into the channels in the ends of the back. Fig. 5 is a rear View of Fig. 4.

As herein illustrated, my device consists of a box or base A, a seat portion B, and a back C. The seat portion consists of front, rear, and end bars or timbers suitably secured together and having intermediate supports for the upholstery. Theseat portion is narrower than the box, as shown, and has its rear edge hinged upon the top of the box, as at 2, so that the front edge is substantially even with the front of the box, while the rear edge is located considerably in front of the rear edge of the box. The side bars or timbers 4 of the seat-frame extend back to a pointjustinterior to the rear side of the box, and the braces 5, connecting with the lower part of the leg 6, are The legs themselves have their upper ends pivoted, as shown at 7, in grooves or channels formed transversely in the ends of the back portion 0, so that when the back is in a vertical position the legs and braces lie substantially within these channels, and the junction of the legs and braces form inturned obtuse angles, which act as a lock and brace to hold the back in its vertical position and to prevent pressure thereon from accidentally forcing it away from this position. The back is connected with the seat portion by straps S, which are firmly secured to the ends of the seat portion, and straps 9, which are secured to the back portion, the meeting ends of the straps 8 and 9 beihg pivoted together, so that the back turns about these pivots. The side bars 4 of the seat portion are here shown as being substantially flush with the top of the box and extending back of the hinges to the rear interior portion of the box. In order to allowthe braces 5, which are connected with the rear ends of the side bars 4, to drop into the inclined position which they occupy when the back 0 and the legs have been opened outwardly, I make slots or channels 10 in the back and in line with the edges of the braces 5, so that they may drop down into the position shown in Fig. 1 when the back has been opened out in position to form position and the legs folded into the channels in the end bars of the back, as previously described, the braces extend nearly vertically upward into the back, being inclined a little forward, as previously described, to act as braces to hold the back and prevent the legs from swinging out. In this position the back stands substantially at right angles with the seat portion, and when it is desired to obtain access to the box it is necessary to lift the seat portion, turning about its hinges 2. When this is done, the ends of the bars 4 drop into the box, and the braces 5 drop into the slots 10 in the back of the box until the bottom rail of the back contacts with the upper edge of the box. This provides a continuous support for the two parts when they are thus tilted up and prevents any danger of breakage, and by reason of the seat being fulcrumed to the box, as shown, the seat and back are more evenly balanced and are much more easily lifted to obtain access to the box.

The seat portion has the usual head at one end and a top portion hinged to it at the rear and adapted to be opened out so as to forma continuation therewith and to support the pillows and the part of the bed which is formed by the back when the latter is opened out. This forming no part of my presentinvention is only here described to show'the complete construction of the device.

Stops 11 may be fixed to the ends of the box and in such position that the bars 4 will contact with these stops when the seat is opened to obtain access to the box and either wholly support the parts in their open position or act in conjunction with the stop afforded by the seat itself. These stops 11 arrest the arms 4 when the'box is opened by tilting the seat and back together about the hinge connection of the seat with the box at 2. The rearwardlyextending arms at are thus depressed into the box until they strike the stops at the same time that the outer bottom angle of the back contacts with the back top angle of the box, and the stops relieve these two contacting angles of the strain otherwise due to their proximity to the hinges and the weight of the tilted parts.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination in a bed-couch of a con taining box or base, a seat portion made narrower than the box and hinged to the top thereof so that the front of the seat is substantially even with the front of the box, said seat having the side bars extending rearwardly to the back of the box, a back hinged to and turnable about the seat, legs having the upper ends pivoted to the back, braces connecting the lower ends of the legs with the rear of the extended seat sides, and slots cut in the back of the box to allow said braces to drop into the slots when the back is opened.

2. The combination in a bed-couch of a hollow box or base, a seat narrower than the box having its front edge flush therewith and the rear edge hinged to the top of the box, said seat having its end bars extended to points just within the back of the box, a back hinged to the seat adapted to be opened out about its hinges or to stand at approximately right angles with the seat, legs pivoted to the upper part of the back, braces connecting the lower parts of the legs with the rear ends of the side bars, and acting in conjunction with the legs to retain the back in its vertical position, slots made in the back of the base into which the braces may pass, whereby the seat and back may be turned about the seat-hinges and the lower edge of the back rest upon the top edge of the box.

3. The combination in a bed-couch of a containin g box or base, a seat hinged to the top of the box between the front and rear, said seat having side bars extending back of the hinges, and stops within the box against which said bars contact when the seat is opened.

4. The combination in a bed-couch of a containing box or base, a seat hinged to the boxtop between the front and rear, rigid side bars on said seat extending behind the hinges, a back carried by and turnable in unison with the seat about its hinges to open the box, the rear edge of the seat contacting with the box when opened, and stops against which the seat side bars simultaneously contact.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN I-IOEY.

Witnesses:

W. R. PEASE, G. E. TWICHELL. 

